Luis Hernandez Responds to Chris Curtis Callout Following UFC Debut Win

Luis Hernandez made an immediate impact in his promotional debut this past Saturday at UFC Vegas 121. After securing a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series less than two weeks prior, Hernandez took a bout against Sedriques Dumas on just two days' notice. He capitalized on the opportunity by securing a bonus-winning, 57-second stoppage, completing a stretch of two submission victories in 11 days to improve his professional record to 9-0.

Following the victory, veteran middleweight Chris Curtis called out Hernandez, stating that he would "fold this man up like a cheap suitcase." Curtis and Hernandez have history stemming from a viral June 2025 incident at Tuff-N-Uff 145 involving Curtis and Sean Strickland. Hernandez, who thought cooler heads had prevailed after the encounter, addressed the veteran's comments in an interview with MMA Fighting.

Hernandez, a 30-year-old Miami-Dade Sheriff’s deputy, stated that a veteran with over 40 fights calling out an undefeated fighter reflects the caliber of competitor he is. However, he warned the 39-year-old Curtis against pushing the rivalry further as he looks ahead in his UFC tenure.

“I’m going to retire him and send him to an old person’s home if he keeps messing around with me,” Hernandez said. “His name, when the name comes across, I’m going to get my fights in, get my record up. When his name comes across, I’m going to retire that man. I’m going to be the final nail that goes into that coffin, and Chris Curtis is going to get retired.”